Nr. 324

REAL MADRID TAKE ON RAPID VIENNA IN EUROPEAN PLAY-OFF (1956)

While Real Madrid would ultimately defend the European Cup successfully in 1956-57, their bid was very nearly derailed in the fust round by Rapid Vienna. The Austrians were trounced 4-2 in the fust leg in Madrid, but won the second leg 3-1 in the Prater stadium with a hat-trick from Ernst Happel. The match was tied 5-5 on aggregate. If the away goals rule had apphed Madrid would have been out at the fust hurdle. However, at that time a play-off was used to determine the winner and it didn’t have to be at a neutral stadium. Madrid talked the Austrians into playing the game at the Bernabeu, where they triumphed 2-0, and Rapid Vienna’s chance of an upset was gone.

Ernst Happel here on the left trains with the Austrian national side. His goals almost took Rapid Vienna to a momentous win over Madrid.

Nr. 323

DUNCAN EDWARDS ‘BOOMS’ AT THE GERMANS (1956)

«The best player that I’ve ever seen and the only other player who ever made me feel inferior,» said Sir Bobby Charlton about his Manchester United team-mate Duncan Edwards. The Busby Babe became the youngest player in the 20th century to play for England when he made his debut aged just 18 years and 183 days against Scotland in April 1955. A year later he starred in England’s 3-1 win over the world champions West Germany at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, contributing a wonderful goal from 25 yards and earning the nickname ‘Boom-boom’ from the impressed German fans for the power of his shots.

Duncan Edwards’ precocious talents marked him out as a great player from a young age.

Nr. 322

English Club Makes European Cup Debut (1956)

After winning the League Championship in 1956 Manchester United manager Matt Busby was determined to enter the fledging European Cup. He wanted a new challenge for his side, known as the Busby Babes as eight were home-grown and had an average age of just 22, and accepted UEFA’s invitation to play in the second season of the competition. «This is where the future of the game lies,» proclaimed Busby. The Football League forbade Busby from entering, but with the support of Stanley Rous at the Football Association he ignored them. United won their opening tie 12-0 on aggregate against Anderlecht and reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Real Madrid.

English football’s European pioneers, Manchester United pose for a picture before boarding their plane to Madrid for the semi-final.

Nr. 321

England Finally Meet Brazil (1956)

On 9 May 1956 England played Brazil for the first time in front of a crowd of 100,000 at Wembley Stadium. England were 2-0 in front after only five minutes through Tommy Taylor and Colin Granger, before early in the second half goals from Didi and Paulinho drew Brazil level. But Taylor and Granger each scored another goal to give England a 4-2 win. Their victory would have been a lot more flattering had England not missed two panalties. When the first one was awarded the Brazilian Alvaro grabbed the ball and began walking off with it in protest, before he was persuaded to return.

Brazil’s Nilton Santos and his England counterpart Billy Wright lead the teams out at Wembley for the first match between the to nations.

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Nr. 320

Trautmann Plays On With Broken Neck (1956)

After 75 minutes of the 1956 FA Cup final Manchester City were beating Birmingham City 3-1 when their goalkeeper Bert Trautmann dived at the feet of Peter Murphy. «It was like a train crash,» recalled the German. Trautmann had broken his neck, but, unaware, played on and made several crucial saves. An X-ray after the game showed he had snapped a vertebra in his neck and was fortunate to be alive. «That was the luckiest time of my life – lucky that I got to play in an FA Cup final and lucky that I could carry on playing after the injury,» he recalled.

Of the moment of impact Trautmann said, «I flew forward and he came into me… I got his thigh in my neck and in that moment I was gone.»

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